Apparatus and method for scheduling live advice communication with a selected service provider
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time;
providing the appointment request to the selected service provider;
once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, scheduling a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider; and
connecting the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time.
32 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for scheduling live advice communication with a selected service provider are described. The method includes receiving, from a service seeker, an appointment request for live advice from a selected service provider during a specified appointment time. Once the appointment is received, the appointment is provided to the selected service provider. The appointment is provided either via electronic mail or via an alert provided via a display screen, which is browsed by the service provider. Once received by the service provider, the service provider has the option to either accept or decline the appointment request. Consequently, once the appointment request is accepted, the service provider system schedules a live advice communications appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider. Finally, the service provider system will connect the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the scheduled appointment time.
219 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time;
providing the appointment request to the selected service provider;
once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, scheduling a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider; and
connecting the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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selecting a service provider from a field of service available from a service provider system;
requesting an appointment with the selected service provider during a selected appointment time;
once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, receiving an appointment confirmation notification from the service provider system; and
connecting, via the service provider system, with the selected service provider for a live advice communication during the selected appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a selected service provider, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a service seeker;
determining whether the selected service provider is available during an appointment time specified in the appointment request;
when the service provider is available during the appointment time, accepting the appointment request for a live advice communication with the service seeker; and
connecting, via the service provider system, with the service seeker for a live advice communication via communications mediums during a selected appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:
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receiving, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time;
providing the appointment request to the selected service provider;
once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, scheduling a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider; and
connecting the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:
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selecting a service provider from a field of service available from a service provider system;
requesting an appointment with the selected service provider during a selected appointment time;
once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, receiving an appointment confirmation notification from the service provider system; and
connecting, via the service provider system, with the selected service provider for a live advice communication during the selected appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:
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receiving, by a selected service provider, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a service seeker;
determining whether the selected service provider is available during an appointment time specified in the appointment request;
when the service provider is available during the appointment time, accepting the appointment request for a live advice communication with the service seeker; and
connecting, via the service provider system, with the service seeker for a live advice communication via communications mediums during a selected appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A service provider scheduling system, comprising:
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a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;
a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface to link service seekers with selected service provider for live advice communication via communications devices of the service seekers and selected service providers;
an appointments database including a record for each schedule and pending appointment between a service seeker and a selected service provider;
a storage device coupled to the processor, having sequences of instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;
receive, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time, provide the appointment request to the selected service provider. once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, schedule a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider, and connect the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification